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Photography · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Food Photography

We eat with our eyes first. This course teaches the specialized skills required to make food look delicious. Students will learn the roles of the Photographer and the Food Stylist, mastering the use of natural and artificial light to enhance texture and appetite appeal. The curriculum covers composition, propping, and the “tricks of the trade” (fake ice, glycerin, motor oil) used in commercial shoots.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master lighting for texture: Backlighting and Side-lighting (The Clock Face rule)
  2. Apply Food Styling basics: Plating, garnishing, and managing "Hero" food
  3. Utilize composition techniques specific to food: The 45-degree angle vs. Overhead (Flat Lay)
  4. Execute "Action Shots": Dusting sugar, pouring syrup, and steam
  5. Edit food photography: Color correction for appetizing skin tones and greens
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Psychology of Appetite: Color & Texture
  2. 02Gear: Macro Lenses & Tethering
  3. 03Lighting I: Window Light & Diffusers
  4. 04Lighting II: Artificial Light (Strobes/LED)
  5. 05Food Styling 101: Freshness & Tools
  6. 06Tricks of the Trade: Fake Ice & Glycerin
  7. 07Hero Food vs. Stand-in Food
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Flat Lay: Composition & Propping
  10. 10The 45-Degree Angle: The Diner's View
  11. 11Action: Pouring, Splashing, & Steam
  12. 12Storytelling: The "Table Scape"
  13. 13Shooting Beverages: Condensation & Reflection
  14. 14Restaurant Photography: Shooting on Location
  15. 15Post-Processing: Color Grading Food
  16. 16Final Project: The Cookbook Cover/Editorial Spread

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Cookbook Cover/Editorial Spread

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Food Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots by Nicole S. Young
  2. Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography & Styling by Helene Dujardin
  3. That Photo Makes Me Hungry by Andrew Scrivani
  4. Light, Science and Magic (Food chapters) by Fil Hunter
  5. Story on a Plate by Gestalten (Visual Reference)
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